textproduct: Amarillo

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 1144 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

- Winter makes its return late today as a winter system brings snow mainly to the central and northern Panhandles. Minor to possibly moderate impacts from snow and blowing snow is anticipated for the northwest Panhandles with limited impacts across the south and east.

- Cooler, near average, temperatures are forecasted for Saturday, with a warming trend again early next week.

SHORT TERM

(This afternoon through Friday night) Issued at 1144 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

A winter weather system is impacting the panhandles today and Friday. The cold front associated with this system will arrive during the evening hours ushering in colder air. The actual moisture of this system will be delayed and not arrive until early Friday morning. This will start the precipitation in the NW panhandles which will then spread to the SE through Friday morning. The onset of the precipitation will most likely be as a light showers of rain to a rain snow mix. This will rapidly transition to pure snowfall once the higher moisture pushes in an hour or two later. This transition will most likely be marked by a band of moderate to heavy rain/snow mix that will slowly move to the southeast. Bands of moderate to heavy snow have a are likely to occur within the area of pure snow for Friday morning. This is most likely within the NW portions of the Panhandles with a lesser chances for central panhandles. For snow accumulations the NW panhandles will most likely see amounts of 3 to 5 inches with a low chance for higher amounts. For the central panhandles the most likely snow amounts will range from 0.1 to 3 inches of snow. There is a low chance for higher amounts of snow in the central panhandles if the bands of heavier snow push further southward. The southeastern panhandles are most likely to remain in a warmer environment which would prevent snowfall, instead leading to just light rain. The heavier snowfall will likely tapper downwards Friday evening as the moisture starts to depart the region leaving lighter snow showers for the rest of the day. While the snow is falling the winds have a high chance to be gusty across the panhandles. This will make the impacts associated with any snowfall worse and can cause areas of blowing snow mainly in the NW regions of higher snowfall. As much of this snowfall will be occurring for Friday morning it can negatively impact the morning commute across large swaths of the panhandles. A mitigating factor for snow accumulation is that the panhandles has been warm for the last few days. So even with the snowfall it may be hard for the snow to stick outside of any moderate to heavy snowbands or a prolonged period of snow. Any melted snow can still lead to issues down the line as temperatures Friday night will go well below freezing across the panhandles. This will make it likely that any wet areas will freeze to ice making black ice a concern for Friday night through Saturday morning. This weather system will then most likely depart the region late on Friday through early Saturday morning bringing an end to any lingering snow showers.

Saturday is shaping up to be a cool and sunny day following the departure of the winter weather system. Winds will likely be breezy during the morning becoming weaker through the day. Any black ice that is present during the morning will melt during afternoon even with the cooler temperatures.

LONG TERM

(Saturday through next Wednesday) Issued at 1144 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

Next week still has a moderate to high chance of a weather system getting cut off from the flow over the desert southwest. This would allow for a band of higher pressure to stretch across the southern plains. This would most likely bring a warming period across the panhandles causing the temperatures to go above normal for the early half of next week. The cut off weather system has a moderate chance of being picked up within the flow again towards Tuesday. Materially this shouldn't impact the panhandles as this weather system would most likely pass well to the south. Beyond this there is building confidence for northerly flow across the plains come mid to late next week. This increases the chances for cold air to make it return to the panhandles.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 533 PM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

VFR conditions are expected to start this TAF period. Conditions will deteriorate quickly beyond 06z, especially at KDHT and KGUY when a winter system moves in over the region. Snow to heavy snow is expected at these sites and visibility and low clouds will lead to IFR if not LIFR conditions. Snow showers are expected to reach as far south as KAMA, but are not expected to be as heavy. Low clouds will still make it to KAMA however, dropping ceilings to at least MVFR. Winds will initially be out of the east but will become northerly towards the later half of this TAF cycle. While snow is falling, winds could gust as high as 30-35 kts at the sites, further reducing visibility. Conditions will start to improve towards the very end of this 00z TAF issuance.

Muscha

AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to midnight CST Friday night for TXZ001.

Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM Friday to midnight CST Friday night for TXZ002>004-006>008-011.

OK...Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to midnight CST Friday night for OKZ001.

Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM Friday to midnight CST Friday night for OKZ002-003.